Three unidentified Kashmiris have been killed by Indian security forces in an alleged encounter in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, an Indian Army spokesperson said.
An encounter broke out between Kashmiri separatist and the Indian security forces in the Imam Sahib area of Shopian following a cordon and search operation in the early hours, the Indian Army official alleged.
He said initially a brief exchange of firing took place between the two sides, prompting the Indian security forces to strengthen the cordon to prevent the seperatists from escaping.
According to PTI, clashes between protestors and Indian law enforcing personnel broke out near the encounter site after some people pelted stones at the Indian security forces engaged in the operation.
He said two persons sustained minor pellet injuries in the security forces' action to chase away the miscreants.
According to preliminary information mentioned in PTI report, the separatists were affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen. One of the slain separatist is believed to be Lateef 'Tiger', an associates of HM commander Burhan Wani who was killed by the Indian security forces in July 2016.
Independent bodies have yet to confirm whether killed were separatists, or their alleged involvement in activities claimed by the Indian security forces.
Human rights organisations have claimed constant human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed territory administered by India, including mass killings, forced disappearances, torture, rape and sexual abuse to political repression and suppression of freedom of speech.
UN human rights report on Kashmir in June 2018 has called for international inquiry into ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Rights Groups referred in Wikipedia; about “100,000 people have died since 1989 while the official figures from Indian sources state the estimates of number of civilians killed due to the insurgency in the range of 16,725 to 47,000”
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently adopted a resolution on Jammu and Kashmir, condemning the “atrocities and human rights violations” in the state,
The resolution on Kashmir used phrases such as “Indian terrorism” and “mass blindings” by Indian security forces on protesting youth.
